The Orthodox community has a history of disliking and even opposing the idea of participating in interfaith dialogue between Jews and Christians.
But today, it is no longer unusual to find Orthodox Jews participating in such efforts. One Orthodox rabbi who has been doing so for many years will speak in Milwaukee next month.
Rabbi Eugene Korn, Ph.D., is executive director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.
In a telephone interview, he explained that “there have been some changes” in the Christian world that have opened the way for many Orthodox Jews.
“Like in all relationships, the main issue is: How much do you trust the other party?” Korn said. “There was enormous mistrust, and it was legitimate and warranted.”
But beginning in the mid-1950s and especially since the Catholic Church’s Vatican II council in the 1960s, “a big change in Christian thinking occurred.”
As a result, “there’s been a certain level of trust built up.” So now, “if you look at Jews who are heavily involved in interfaith dialogue, a high percentage is Orthodox. Some are rabbis, some academics. I’m not saying it is popular, but it is not at all uncommon.”
And besides, “I think Jews are supposed to have influence on the world,” said Korn. According to the Bible, “we are supposed to bring blessing to the world; we are not supposed to be only in ghettos.”
“Now that we are to some extent accepted by the Christian world, we should interact with them,” Korn said. “That is one of the highest ideals of the biblical covenant.”
Israel’s importance
Korn will speak at two events in Milwaukee, both with free admission. On Sunday, April 6, 2:30 p.m., at Congregation Sinai, he and Steven Avella, Ph.D., professor of history at Marquette University, will discuss “The Development of Christianity and Judaism in the Modern Period.”
This event is the fifth and last session of the series “Judaism & Christianity: Identities Forged in Conflict,” planned and sponsored by the Catholic-Jewish Conference of Milwaukee.
Then on Monday, April 7, 7 p.m., at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center, Korn will discuss “The Jewish State of Israel: What Every Christian Should Know.”
As he explained, many of the points he will make are found in his most recent book, “The Jewish Connection to Israel, the Promised Land: A Brief Introduction for Christians” (Jewish Lights Publishing, $14.99 paper), copies of which will be available for purchase at the event.
Responding to Korn’s presentation will be Richard Lux, Ph.D., professor at the Sacred Heart School of Theology of Milwaukee, an interfaith activist and vice president and chair of the board of directors of the National Christian Leadership Conference for Israel.
Israel’s importance will be a common theme to both presentations, Korn said. “Israel is the key to Jewish survival in the 21st century,” in the wake of European Jewry’s destruction in the Holocaust and the continuing decline of the U.S. Jewish population, he said.
But Israel’s existence has significance for Christians as well, he said. In theological terms, most Christian denominations no longer believe in or teach the doctrine of “supercessionism” — i.e., that Christianity is supposed to replace a no longer valid Judaism.
Now that most forms of Christianity “are saying that Judaism and Christianity can coexist as valid, living religions,” the question is, How should Christianity understand the Jewish return to Zion?
To engage this question is “an enormous theological opportunity for Christians,” and can “strengthen the foundation of their biblical faith” because they see themselves “as partners in the covenant with Abraham,” Korn said.
Moreover, as Muslim fundamentalism and associated religious intolerance grows in the Middle East, Christians have been leaving Muslim-ruled areas.
The only place in the Middle East where the Christian population is growing is Israel, because it is a democracy that guarantees freedom of worship, Korn said.
“The more Israel is accepted, the greater is the possibility of equality for non-Muslims in the Middle East,” said Korn. And that is “important not only for Jewish, but for Christian survival and dignity in the Middle East.”
The Catholic-Jewish Conference is a program of the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Concerns of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations and the Wisconsin Council of Rabbis.
For more information about the two programs, call the MJCCR, 414-390-5781.
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